Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-29
A BOOM FOR KANAWHA
A PLAN TO DEVELOP THE CAPITAL AMI
THE COUNTRY.
General Watts Gives An Outline Of the Proposed New
Railroad From MOrgantOwn Through Charleston
10 TsnnsSses-Ths Question Of County
Subscription.

the arrival Of Mr.. Stearns from New York,
the proposed route of which is from Nor
gantown, up the Monongahela river, thence
up West Fork to Clarksburg. Harrison
county, Weston, Lewis county, and down
the Elk river to Charleston, thence on in
the same general direction up Coal river to
the Tennessee line, and whether or not il.
was Of sufficient Importance to the people
generally to justify the counties through
which it would pass, to aid in the con-
struction of such road by county subscrip-
ton. He replied as follows:
81 have given the matter about which
you ask, good deal ofthought, and while
1 am attached to no special company or
syndicate, feel satisfied that if the counties
do not take hold Of some such project, and
by every means in their power aid the
same, even to the extent of subscription
to the constitutional limit, they will make
very grievous mistake. In my iudg-
ment the time has come, when by prompt
action on the part of the counties in the
right direction, such a road can be secured.
1t cannot be necessary to speak Of the
great advantage of this State to have such
a route running through the State from the
northeast to the southwest opened up, and
so far as Kanawha county is concerned,
such route running from the county line
on Elk river, down the same to Charleston,
thence by the most practicable route to
Coal river, and up Little Coal to the
Boone county line, will open up territory
of some seventy miles in this county, un-
surpassed, if indeed equaled in
richness OF soil, magniicence Of
timber, largeness of coal veins
aud variety of kinds at present wholly un-
developed. have no doubt that within
two years after a train over such road
passes through this city, Charleston's pop
ulation will have at least doubled and in
Eve years it may be safely placed at
thirty thousand and perhaps much more.
Such an enterprise to Charleston is of in
fnitely more value than being the capital
of the State. have no doubt that if the
people of this city will display the proper
energy and sagacity, they can have round
house and machine shops located here.
People who are now leaving for booming
towns in the West, will hasten back to this
city to live and there will be large and
rapid increase in our population"
"But how will this benefit the rest of
the county, so as to justify the country
people 10 vote 50 large a subscription, as
being one of the countieson the line, which
you say can afford to vote to the constitu-
tional limit?'
GAS to the people along Coal and Elk
rivers nothing need be said to show
HOW THEY WILL DE BENEFITED.
1t will give them new life and wealth.
Their lands that are now comparatively
worthless, for want Of railroad facilities
will appreciate in value and become in
great demand. A market for their pro-
ducts will be placed at their doors and
thrift will follow where poverty now pre-
walls. As to the large laboring element of
Kanawha, new field for their employ
ment will be opened for seventy
miles in Kanawha alone. 1t is already
known that the coal mining will be i'm
nense. As to the farmers throughout the
county, market will be furnished them,
by the rapid change of Charleston from its
present size to large and hourishiDg
city. Instead Of sending the cross-ties
slaves and saw-logs, which come down the
Gauley, the Elk, Coal and Kanawha to
Cincinnati and other points below, they
will find ready market here at home.
The tax on this seventy miles Of railroad
will pay more than the interest on the
bonds, and the increased value OF taxable
property throughout the county will make
the bonds themselves most profitable in
yestment, 80 you Bee that while Charleston
will be made great city, and by this
means not only enabled to keep abreast Of
Huntington and Parkersburg, but in fact
go far ahead Of them, the whole county
will prosper in like ratio. 1t is fact that
throughout the country a great many
towns are enjoying unprecedented boOms,
and if our people will grasp the situation
they will profit by the present opportunity
in that direction"
"Will the different counties not refuse TO
vote the subscription you speak OF for fear
Of benefiting corpOratiOnP"
~ do not think they will. So far as
Kanawha county is concerned, i am satisfied
when the matter is placed properly before
them our people will see their interest so
largely involved that they will be willing
to incidentally benefit a corporation in
order to give themselves the advantages
and wealth which they will acquire by the
procurement of this road. have no wild
lands to develop and am interested in no
railroad company, and believe my record
with reference t0 making railroads and
other corporations comply with laws, is
we'll enough understood to Justify me in
conclusion that the people will attribute to
me only an earnest and deep interest in
Kanaw ha and the other counties which are
expected to help hear the burden ofprocur-
curing this road"
Would you submit
THE QUESTION OF SUBSCRIPTION
to the people in favor OF any particular
Company
IL would not. / would have Kanawha
county vote a subscription of between
S200, 900 and $500, 600 TO aid in the con-
struction Of that part Of the road which
will run through this county, and, with
out committing ourselves 10 the mercy Of
any company, | would have this subscrip.
IN
ton used by committee consisting OF one
commissioner from each Msgisterial dis
trict in the county, TO negotiate with cap
italists for the earliest construction Of
a standard guage road, with steel rails,
and that the action Of such committee be
subject TO the ratification Of the County
Court In that Wsy all suspicion Of job
berry would be avoided, and il one railroad
sompany could not offer satisfactory in
ducements, Negotiations could be carried
on with and bonds issued in favor Of some
other company which might best guarantee
the early construction and equipment Of
the road"
"Will il not be necessary, in order TO
make the subscription, for the order Of
court submitting the question Of subscrip-
ton to the people to name the railroad
company which is expected to construct
the road?r
''On the contrary, the law, see Warth's
Code, page 259, section "a, contemplates